DRBC43AMG

As suspension and Bilstein shocks seem to be a subject which draws many comments of all sorts, I thought that a specific thread should be posted to give a complete information base with specs as possible.
As you all probably know, I have removed all the suspension parts from my 99' C43 (European) in order to upgrade my "T Rex" with a full KW Variant 2 suspension. I have all the parts I removed handy and as mentioned in another thread, I promised to have a look and see what info was available.

Here goes and please remember I am describing a EURO spec vehicle....

First of all, the pads on both front and back are the thinnest available with MB = 1 nib.

Front
Spring:
- Black colored with 1 yellow stripe and 3 white stripes painted on the exterior side of a coil (middle of the spring)
- Length overall: 345mm
- Diameter of coil: 16mm
- ID#: N 210 321 2204 HH1 (and a small MB star emblem at the end)

Shock:
- Black colored with Bilstein label at the bottom end
- AMG engraved bellow the Bilstein label (justifying AMG price )
- 2 ID#
1) A 202 323 4100
2) 9 8329 1848T001 (Bilstein internal reference #?)

Rear
Spring:
- Black colored with 3 blue stripes painted on the exterior side of a coil (middle of the spring)
- Length overall: 320mm
- Diameter of coil: 14mm
- ID#: W2 210 324 3404 HH1 (and a small MB star emblem at the end)

Shock:
- Black colored with Bilstein label at the bottom end
- AMG engraved bellow the Bilstein label (justifying AMG price )
- 2 ID#
1) A 202 326 3000
2) 98252 1849T 001 (Bilstein internal reference #?)

So that's what I managed to see and check from the parts which came from the 43. I'll have a browse around on the MB spare parts site (EPC) and see what comes up with the different #s. It is interesting to see springs with a 210 at the beginning and not 202. Did they raid the W210 series parts bin?

cm60k

Great value information,, Thankss alot.......

ZAYED,,

nkctb7

Thank you for confirming the part#'s in regards to the Euro suspension setup. I am considering the Euro setup for my C43 but may end up going with the Vogtland/Koni setup. Do you have any detailed/close up pics of your vehicle before you installed the KW setup? I would like to see how low my vehicle would be with your stock setup before I decide which route to take. Thanks again.

Cheers

DRBC43AMG

I have one or two pics of the standard Euro set up. I'll post them shortly. Regarding the KW kit, I am installing the suspension now and I'll have to see what it looks like when the car gets back on the ground. Also, as the suspension is adjustable, I will have to do some fine tuning of the suspension until I find the height I feel at ease with: not too low, not too high...

DRBC43AMG

A chart with all the parts ID # Euro versus USA. The Euro version is definitely with w210 parts, probably E55

nkctb7

Thanks for uploading the pic. Are those the stock 17's?

Cheers

DRBC43AMG

Yes, those are the stock 17". Will be running 18" Monos on new Michelin PS3's when she hits the ground again soon....
Check the https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...re-thread.html and look at Taylor Ellis's grey 43 with 18" (picture #1383). That is one very sweet looking AMG IMO

nkctb7

That is a very sweet C43. Is his car stock Euro height? It looks to have just a slight amount of camber front and rear but I can live with that. That is the exact the height that I am looking to attain.

Also, I noticed what appears to be trim guards on your fender and rear quarter flares. Can you elaborate and where you purchased them from?

Thanks

DRBC43AMG

Yes the trim guards are an AMG option # 776 on the list.
I am debating if I should keep them or remove them next winter when the 43 goes for some bodywork
I imagine that the increased camber comes with the larger wheels or perhaps he has some spacers. I would not be too worried because OE suspension alignment specs call for a wee bit of negative camber. I have always had some on all my cars and never experienced a significant increase of wear. The central part will wear out before the interior sides Correct toe in front and back is more important for overall stability. Get it wrong and your tires will wear out in no time at all

nkctb7

If his vehicle is stock height then that is exactly what I am after. I want to keep the ride but eliminate the large wheel gaps that are standard on North American C43's. I personally like the trim guards as I have never seen them in Canada. They definitely caught my eye.

Cheers

DRBC43AMG

Hmm, I have a feeling that the car is a bit lower than standard. Can't be his pads as the Euro AMG suspension is installed with 1 nib/burr (thinnest) pads, so must have other lower springs.
Have a good day (or night). I'm off for a bit of spannering...

nkctb7

I was thinking the same as it does sit quite a bit lower than your C43. Even though he is running 18's the profile difference evens out. It looks like I'll go with Vogtland springs again as I was extremely happy with everything they offered. Still uncertain whether to run Koni yellows again or give the Billie sports a go. I don't want an extremely harsh ride. Any thoughts?

Cheers

nkctb7

Just out of curiosity, what is "spannering"?

Cheers

DRBC43AMG

Working on my car using tools like spanners, screwdrivers, hammers, etc. The hammer to be used if feeling very frustrated at certain stuborn parts...

nkctb7

Lol, I get it now. I thought that it was something along that path but wasn't sure.

Cheers

nd4spd13

Very interesting how there are indeed different euro spec shocks for both front and rear, but the fronts ended up being the same part number after replacements. hmmm...

nkctb7

Indeed, that is very odd. I would assume that if I decide to go the Euro spring route I can keep the stock shocks as it only drops it an inch. Either that or I go with the Billy HD's. Any thoughts?

Cheers

nd4spd13

That's a good question. I don't know what Bilstein's numbers are in terms of how much lowering would "require" sports, or how much an HD would take. Wonder if anyone who has done the Euro Springs route can chime in on what they did

dearlove

Wow, 210 springs hey? Might puck my self up a set of e55 ones and chop them down to suit

ECTurboGSX

The front springs you have listed are in fact the W210 E55 front springs. Dead on match according to EPC. The rears are not W210 E55 rears though. The E55 rears are 3204 and 3304 versus the 3404 listed for the Euro C43. I'm gonna keep digging and see what I can find.

ECTurboGSX

Alright, after some more digging, the rear springs that you have listed are used on some W203 and W209 models in the US. I pulled up a C32 and it is one of 5 different springs that are listed for the rear. The options in the vehicle are used to determine which spring Mercedes used. The good news is that you should be able to order both pairs from any US dealer.

nkctb7

If the Billy Sports are designed for use with lowering springs because of their shorter travel rate, I would assume the stock Billy's and the Billy HD's would be fine for a difference of a 1" drop. On the Euro cars I am pretty certain that they use pretty much the same struts as NA cars.

Cheers

nd4spd13

Just talked to Bilstein, and here's the deal. The B4 shock is for direct stock replacement, so NO difference in ride hight. The B6 (HD) is good for stock ride hight to <1" drop, and the B8 (sports) are for 1"+ but be careful, because I do remember the Tirerack numbers for their "HDs" linked up to B4s in the bilstein catalogue, so you wouldn't want to put those on a car that's been lowered at all.

KJI3jflarryfe93

Mr. D. did you check if your front and rear swaybars are hollow or solid bars?
I'm thinking of buying sometime in the future Eibach or H&R if they are thicker and solid than stock swayzes?

Can't remember but does lowering springs from the above mentioned brands work with stock AMG shox?
Travel rates and rebounds from AMG shox are they in synch with lowering springs.

It's much cheaper only buying other springs and using them with stock shox.
Question is if this recipe works?

DRBC43AMG

One information missing in this thread... anti-sway/roll bars!

During the installation of the Goodridge SS brake lines during the weekend, I had a nice view on the ASB's both front and rear

Front:
Part # A202 323 50 65 with a diameter of 30mm and an AMG marker in front of the #

Rear:
Part # A202 326 11 65 with a diameter of 18mm (no AMG sign so this must be an OEM part)

In reply to Kowalski's request just above ^, the ASB's are certainly NOT hollow and I don't recall having seen hollow bars in the past....

So I think that closes the Euro C43 suspension parts identification